David Brooks asked:


Sounds obvious enough, right? And, in a way it is. I have seen many beautiful examples and many not-so-beautiful examples. The trick is to match up the decorating themes of a given room with the appropriate window treatment. The other choices are color, insulating properties, light control and privacy. By the way, I take window treatments to mean almost any window covering: blinds, shades, shutters and drapes. There doesn’t seem to be much consensus on what a window treatment is so I am taking the broadest definition.

Choosing the right blinds and shades can get a little more complicated than these few choices. For example there are motorized blinds, cordless, valance options, wand control and more. But for the purposes of this article I will stick mostly to the major themes as mentioned above. Once you have chosen the appropriate blind, shade, shutter or drape, you can decide if you want to add any of the convenience options offered by the manufacturer.

First, let’s lay out the main choices. In the window blinds category you have mini blinds, plantation shutters, vertical blinds, wood and faux wood blinds and finally, panel track blinds. In the window shades category you have roller shades, sheer shades, pleated shades, woven wood shades (also known as bamboo shades), roman shades, cellular shades and solar shades (also called solar screens). Then there are drapes. The drapes category can be huge depending on how you choose to categorize them. But for the purposes of this article I will label them as custom and pre-made. Custom drapes are made-to-order drapes cut to the appropriate size of your window and usually with a built in 2 to 1 fullness. These are generally higher quality and made from a variety fabrics from silk to cotton. Made-to-order drapes are generally less expensive and can be picked up at many major retailers.

Segregating by room type, here are my recommendations. For kitchens, faux wood shutters and faux wood blinds are often an excellent choice. They often match up well with wood cabinets and can withstand the often hot and humid environments of kitchens. This is also true for bathrooms. But, other choices for bathrooms would be pleated shades, which you can think of as the non-insulating version of cellular shades. The nice thing about pleated shades for bathrooms is they pair well with the top down/bottom up feature which is excellent for privacy. Less expensive options for these kinds of rooms would be mini blinds, woven woods or roman shades. Mini blinds are a better choice for rooms with a more modern décor whereas wood finishes are best with wood-type decors. A simple rule of thumb is to match your window treatments with the overriding color and materials of the room: wood with wood, fabric with fabric, metal with metal and all in complimentary colors.

For living rooms and family rooms, the choices are pretty wide open. For large windows, like sliding doors, vertical blinds are an easy choice but don’t overlook panel track blinds. Don’t forget that vertical blinds come in more than just vinyl; they also come in faux wood, fabric, cellular and aluminum. Plantation shutters, though expensive, are a time-honored window covering choice. You almost can’t go wrong with these, unless your house is very modern and contemporary. In that case, I would recommend aluminum mini blinds or vertical blinds.

For bedrooms, privacy and light control are usually the big factor. So, I would look into roller shades, cellular or pleated shades with a blackout liner, or woven woods and roman shades, again with a liner. The one you choose will depend on the overall décor of your room. If you want more insulating properties from you shades, go with the cellular option.

For dining rooms, I would recommend drapes or maybe roman or woven wood shades. If you like the roman shades, consider the pleated or tear-drop option for a more luxurious appearance.

For rooms with views and lots of sunlight, consider solar shades. These come in various levels of opacity, i.e. how much light they block. The nice thing about solar screens is you can still see out of your windows with out as much solar heat build-up as well as a greater level of privacy from the street view.



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Getar asked:


Taking care of a house is something that most people love to do. Different accessories and things that you can add to any room in order to give an extra presence and to help make it look better. Curtains are essential for any room, also, far more than a functional bits and pieces used to block light and endow solitude. Curtains are a form of window treatment and complete overall appearance of the house. These are also known as “draperies” in the US which is a piece of cloth intended to block or secure light, or drafts or water in the case of a shower curtain.

What are the curtain fabrics available in the market?

Curtains are used to give an aesthetical appeal for a room. An elegant one greatly increases the aesthetics of a room and gives an opulent look. If one cannot modishly work out for a good kind of curtain, a dirty and ill matched curtain curtains may give a room gloomy. The choice of curtains then should be given an utmost consideration. Depending on the purpose of which the curtains are being installed, fabric curtains, as the most popular window treatments may be opt to a light fabric or heavier drape, each with a differing degree of light and absorption and heat insulating qualities. Selection should also depend on the colour of the room, privacy required, how hot or cold upon want it to be and the art of light you prefer entering your room.

A wide range of fabric can be chosen when making your own curtain. A sheer or net curtain is made of translucent fabric which allows of light to be transmitted, providing a basic level of UV of protection. These are sometimes referred to as privacy curtains as during the day will allow people inside the home to see the outside view whilst preventing people outside the home from seeing directly into home. Uncoated fabrics are tightly woven fabric which is mostly opaque and provide a reasonable level of heat insulation due to tight weave fabric. Uncoated fabrics then when closed attempts to block out direct sunlight, light will still are visible through the curtain. The coated fabrics are coated with a liquefied ruber polymer in a single coat to an uncoated fabric. This fabric is considered a one pass coated fabric, often referred to as dim-out because of its ability to absorb 50-70% of a direct light source. Other parameters in choosing fabric curtains are the size of the room, the shape of the window and the colour and upholstery of the furniture.

For formal rooms, the use of fabrics like, brocade, damask, faille, silk, velvet or velveteen is recommended. If it is for informal room, you must choose from boucle, chintz, sateen, linen and sheeting. For casual, you can go with broadcloth, burlap, canvas, corduroy, denim, muslin, poplin suede cloth or tweed.

How about home-made curtains?

Curtains are used now in many homes or business to make a trend statement or to add a bit of stylish to the environment. They are regarded as decorative utility products which change the look of a room and give an expression of the room, a frame of mind. But as per requirements, curtains can be expensive and may seem not available in the market easily. In this case, home-made curtains are an advantage allowing you t splash out on more expensive curtains especially if one is very skilled and puts on a professional finish to them. You should visit craft and fabric shops to pick out the material preferred for your curtains and search for designer versions and start making your own. You can tailor the curtains to your exact requirements and will have a good option to customize them by using accessories (tie-backs, pelmets, cushion covers).

Other considerations:

A thought should be given on safety for floor length curtains when pets and children are present in the house. Make sure of your window measurement. You must decide on the length of the curtain, sill length, below sill length of floor length. The weight of the fabric will also determine the thickness of the pole.

Lining the curtains can protect it from damage due to dust, sunlight and in insulating the room.

Sunlight considerations:

- Use lined window treatments, blinds or shades to protect fabrics as dark colored fabric are light and fade

- Acetate often is blended with silk or cotton to make it more resistant.

- Consider professionally installed film to diminish the damaging effects of the ultraviolet rays.

Washing curtains:

- Don’t’ forget to check the label for washing instructions before laundering ready-made curtains. Hooks, rings and hardware should be removed if curtains are washable.

- Machine wash on a short gentle cycle using cool water and mild detergent must be used.

-Iron on the reverse side. Take care not to break the stitching and reattach metal hardware only after the curtains are dry.



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Lee Dobbins asked:


How you dress your windows is an important piece of your overall design and a lot of thought should go into the style and fabric used for your bedroom window treatments.

How do you know which window treatment is right in your bedroom?

There are 3 basic types of window treatments that can be used alone or in combinations. Here’s some tips on these basic types and what style of room you might choose them for.

Curtains and Drapes

Curtains and drapes are a style of window treatment that most of us can recognize but there’s many variations on this old standby. If your bedroom design is simple, you might choose just plain sheers as these will go well with many themes including a romantic theme, a modern theme and anything in between.

Valances can be used to soften the top of the window. They are great if you don’t want to cover up a great view but also don’t want the window to look too bare. Typically valances are made from fabric but you can build them form wood and decorate them with an aged or stencilled paint to go with your Tuscan or French country design. Fabric valances can go with almost any bedroom decorating theme depending on the fabric you choose and can be used in conjunction with sheers to give you a bit of privacy.

Drapes are an elegant bedroom window treatment. If you have a romantic, French or Victorian theme some heavy drapes in rich fabrics can transform your bedroom into one fit for a queen. Heavy drapes look best on tall windows, but if you short squatty windows like most homes built in the 60’s - 80’s don’t let that deter you from using great drapes. You can always just keep them closed to hide the window behind and no one will ever know the difference!

Wooden Shutters and Blinds

Indoor wooden window blinds are a great way to add privacy to your bedroom and can be used alone or with curtains, drapes or valances.

There are 2 styles of shutters - plantation shutters and café shutters.

Plantation shutters cover the whole window and have louvers which can be opened and closed to let light in or provide privacy. These shutters go great with a plantation style look, a country look or a coastal cottage look.

The café shutters are the kind that cover only the bottom half of the window and swing open to let light in. These also look nice in a country or beach style bedroom and are perfect for a Paris apartment style as well.

Fabric Blinds

Fabric blinds add a nice touch to any bedroom and can be decorated and embellished with whatever you want. Fringe, pom-poms and ribbon are just a few of the great ways to make these bedroom window treatments stand out.

Roman blinds work well for childrens rooms and informal styles such as cottage or beach style decor. These shades fold up to expose the window during the day and roll down at night.

Festoon blinds are puffy with lots of fabric. They are quite ornate and work best in a romantic style bedroom such as a Victorian, French or Italian motif. Festoon blinds look best on wide windows and might not be good for small rooms as they can tend to be a bit overwhelming.



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Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


We tend to look at windows as being only decorative fixtures to our homes. Many of us therefore forget that these windows play a larger part in our lives. The first way is by the privacy we have as a result of these windows. The next part is the amount of weather protection our homes receive from these windows. While there are many methods that you can use to provide these factors the one that is gaining popularity is that of window tinting.

The first glance you have of these types of windows and you are probably thinking about the expenses that are involved. The second is that your home will lose its attractive looks. To both of these ideas window tinting has solutions that you will find to be quite reasonable. You will however need to see the best way of applying these ideas and solutions to your home.

The most common way to get quick yet practical results for window tinting is by applying a tinted film over the windows that you want. By applying this tint you not only reduce the amount of glare that is entering into your home but you provide your home with a layer of thermal insulation which is very welcome during the winter season.

When you are looking for the tinting film which is used in window tinting you will discover a wide range of tints. The most commonly used ones are frosted window tinting which provides your windows with a translucent look.

Dark window tinting is used mainly to provide a high degree of security and privacy to homes as well as businesses. Meanwhile bronze window tinting film is used to give soft lighting in areas where you need light but not sharp light.

There are window tinting films which can be used for summer time purposes. This purpose may be as mundane as keeping your home cool from the heat of the summer days. The tinting which needs to be used for this purpose is that of reflective tinting. Besides all of these well known window tints you will also find another useful one. This is a low-E coating window tint.

When you are looking for ways to reduce the glare of the day and prevent high bills in winter and summer there are many techniques that you can try out. For all of these needs and your privacy as well you will find that window tinting is the best answer.



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David Brooks asked:


These days, more and more attention is being paid to the previously humble bathroom. Luxurious bathrooms are a trend (and one that is probably here to stay)—incorporating spa-inspired amenities and luxurious materials in your bathroom is becoming de rigueur. Bathrooms are turning into the new refuge, and some busy professionals feel it’s one of their only chances to get some alone time during the day. Built-in TV’s and radios, saunas, coffee makers and Jacuzzis are all being incorporated into bathrooms. Your bathroom window treatments should complement the look of your bathroom decor while also meeting the unique conditions that need to be addressed in a private space.

Consider the environment; bathrooms are humid. Even if you want a bathroom window treatment fit for a queen and your heart is set on drapes or roman shades, explore synthetic options that won’t mildew. Ditto for hardwoods that can warp—go faux wood, composites or vinyl and save a few dollars while you’re at it (i.e. faux wood blinds, faux wood shutters). Ventilation is important in a bathroom, so make sure your window treatment doesn’t interfere with the operation of the window.

Privacy, privacy, privacy. If your bathroom windows face the street or a nearby neighbor, consider light controlling blinds or shades (cloth, aluminum, vinyl, and natural wovens), operative shutters or lined panels. For windows on second or third floors, consider top down/bottom up upgrades that offer both natural light and privacy.

Be style and theme appropriate. For a more crisp, clean look popular in many spa-like home bathrooms, keep things simple and sleek with a simple horizontal blind, shade or drapery panel covering the window. For a more elaborate, layered look, appropriate for traditional, French, Mediterranean, and Country inspired décor, pair attractive top treatments, side panels or swags in colors that complement other accents in the room over your window blinds or shades.

It may seem like an insignificant part of you bathroom remodeling or redecorating plans, but the right window treatment can be the finishing touch for a beautiful bathroom. And, the wrong window treatment (i.e. one that can’t handle the environmental demands) will simply not last and from a design standpoint will detract from the overall beauty and cohesiveness of the design.

These days there are tons of window covering options, colors, textures and various upgrades, it can be a little daunting. If that’s how you feel, you may want to speak to an expert who can help narrow the list. There are also many brand names, such as Hunter Douglas, Levolor, Bali, Kirsch, Comfortex and Graber. I have not noticed that there is a tremendous difference in quality between the various manufacturers, so don’t worry too much about that. If you want to save some money consider some of the retailer’s signature brands. These are generally very equivalent in quality and are usually 10-20% cheaper. Just ask what the warranty is for the signature brands and maybe also inquire about customer reviews. If you are comfortable with the guarantees and reviews, I say save the money. No one is going to be looking at the labels of your blinds.



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Mike Stephens asked:


Below is a brief description of the various types of window blinds available today :

Blackout Blinds

Blackout Blinds give the best total darkness for both night and day. Perfect for afternoon naps and those lighter summer nights. Just right to ensure the kids get that deep sleep they need. These blinds help to turn day into night and are made of dirt-resistant polyester which features an aluminium foil that reflects excessive heat from the sun in the summer, whilst retaining heat within the room during the winter. The blackout blind runs up and down the window in aluminium side channels. These are designed to prevent daylight from passing in around the edges to keep you in total darkness, and these blinds don’t look like traditional blackout blinds because they are available in a wide range of colours and designs to fit most window frames.

Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds are best for adjusting the amount and direction of sunlight. Often made of aluminium, they are easy to wipe clean and are perfect for any room that encounters high humidity levels. Design features make operation simple and convenient, with a control mechanism that allows you to position the blinds at any point on the window. Improved aesthetics give you control over both the amount and direction of light, and they are easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Roller Blinds

Roller blinds provide basic privacy and control of sunlight, and are undoubtedly the most popular of all blinds. They are available in a huge range of colours and patterns and are ideal for diffusing the light and providing basic privacy in a simple and elegant way. They are extremely easy to fit.

Flying Pleated Blinds

The new flying pleated blind allows a more flexible position in the window and lets in just the right amount of light, thanks to the new special operating system that lets you position the blind smoothly and easily anywhere on the window frame. The blind is operated by two elegant full-width control bars and can be set in any position in the window as it is not fixed at the top or the bottom. This blind provides basic privacy and greater control of sunlight and it’s soft decorative effect is available in a wide range of designs and colours. The new Pleated blinds simply soften the light and add an elegant, decorative finish to your room. Flying pleated blinds do not attract dirt and retain their shape no matter how often the blind is used.

Insect screen blinds

Sometimes it’s not just light that a window can let in and insect screen blinds are an elegant and effective solution to keep out insects while the window is still open, allowing fresh air to circulate freely. They won’t obstruct your view and are easy to clean with a damp cloth. These blinds allow you to have all your meals with your family in comfort or enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep without the unwelcome presence of insects.

It is installed on the wall so you can use your window as normal and if you’re not using it, simply roll it up in its aluminium casing. This screen blind can be combined with all other types of blinds.

Most blinds can be bought in three variants: Manual, Solar Powered Remote Control, Electric control for electrically operated Roof Windows.



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Roger King asked:


If your bedroom or bathroom faces the street or a nearby neighbor, issues of privacy and light control, plays a very important part in addressing your wellbeing and piece of mine. There are a couple of window treatments available to choose from such as lined panels, operative shutters, or light-controlling blinds. Either one of these window treatments will secure your privacy from unwanted eyes while taking a shower or changed your clothing.

Keeping light out of the bedroom is as important as letting it in or controlling its levels. Blinds do not offer as much noise control as heavy fabric shades and provide privacy only when they are completely closed. Heavy draperies are seldom appropriate for the scale and style of bedrooms, so use a combination of light draperies, shades, or blinds. Check the fabric to determine how much privacy and light control it offers.

Natural light is optimal light. To achieve good natural light control during the day, hang a flexible window treatment that provides privacy but let in maximum daylight. The best investment is a set of plantation shutters or high-quality blinds. If blinds blades don’t fit tightly and are turned downwards, upstairs neighbors may be able to see through them. The same goes for blades turned upward, downstairs neighbors may be able to peer in.

A blind with standard white plastic or metal blades is always a good choice, while shiny; chrome blades express a sleek, chic style. Both are waterproof and easily cleaned with a dust cloth or a brush designed for blind blades. Another option is to install a classic white roller shade; it disappears behind a valance when rolled up to let in the light. Bedrooms and bathrooms should be restful, but they don’t have to be dull or dated. Give your sleepy abode a wakeup call with lively window treatment.



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David Brooks asked:


All I want is a little clarity. I am the type of person who gets bothered by imprecise language, especially when it is within my own industry. You see, it’s my job to write about window blinds and shades and the terms, window treatments and coverings are bantered about all the time with little regard to their real meaning.

I decided to do some research and get a definitive answer, which I would share with the public. I am not expecting to create some kind of revolution just want to shed some light on a couple of pretty nebulous words.

First, I went to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary and found nothing, no definition for either word. How could that be? These are fairly common terms. This is confusing to me. I use an online tool in my work that tells me how many times per day the internet searching public uses keywords. The word window treatments gets used about 2,600 per day and the word window coverings gets used about 625 per day. And yet, these words are not clearly defined. I sense a conspiracy – just kidding.

My next resource was Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia with descriptions and explanations written by everyday people. I found the following entries:

A window covering is material used to cover a window to reduce sunlight, to provide additional weatherproofing, or to ensure privacy. Window Coverings are usually on the interior side of windows, but can be on the exterior in some situations. Types of coverings include: drapes, curtains, window blinds, including: Venetian blinds, mini blinds, window shutters, vvarious types of boarding, nailed or screwed to the window casing, can be used as temporary window covering.

In interior decorating, a window treatment may refer to any of the following items placed over or around a window: curtains or drapery, including sheers, window blinds, including Venetian blinds, a valance, tiebacks used to hold curtains. It may also include treatments applied to directly to the glass, including: frosted glass (through acid, etching, sandblasting, or plastic films or panels), distorted optics, such as wavy glass, stained glass panels or ornaments.

It seems to me, based on these two entries that there is little difference between their meanings. Both include window blinds, drapes, curtains and Venetian blinds (an old term for what is now commonly referred to as mini blinds). Where they seem to depart, at least according to these descriptions is that window coverings includes shutters (in this case plantation shutters) and window treatments can include treatments to the glass itself.

Both have the basic meaning of something to decorate or cover a window for privacy and light-control (room darkening) and to accentuate the décor of a room. So, essentially what we have here are two poorly defined words that have virtually the same meaning. So, I would like to make a personal ruling on this issue and say that window treatments should be any treatment: drapes, blinds and shades on the interior (inside) portion of a window, whereas window coverings should be any treatment: shutters, storm shutters, and awnings to the outside portion of a window. That seems clearer to me. Doesn’t mean that everyone is suddenly going to jump on my definition bandwagon, but I can hope.



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Paul Counts asked:


With the rising costs of fuel in the United States people’s wallets aren’t only taking hits at the gas pump, but they are also taking hits on their home or apartment utility bills. However, there is good news for the energy consumer. The United States Department of Energy has reported that window treatments such as cellular shades can reduce energy waste and therefore energy costs by some 20 percent each year. The average family can save around $325 per year on energy costs by using energy efficient window coverings.

“Nowadays you have to save as much money as possible to pay for the rising costs of fuel,” says Harry Delp, an expert on window shades and window treatments. “It only makes sense to install shades that have been proven by the United States Department of Energy to save you money.”

Not all window coverings are created equal in their ability to reduce energy consumption and waste. Window Quilts are the most energy efficient but have functional styling limitations. Bamboo blinds, wood blinds, and mini blinds offer varying degrees of insulation, but without some kind of privacy liner attached the insulating value offered is minimal.

Cellular shades on the other hand are aesthetically appealing, offer a wide variety of hardware upgrades, and offer the highest level of insulation second only to window quilts.

Cellular shades are available in room darkening, light filtering, and complete blackout. They are available in 3/8″, 12″, and 34″ cells. Cellular shades have air pockets between the layers of fabric which trap air and prevent escape. The more cells, the higher the R-value.

In an attempt to increase the energy efficiency level of their cellular shades, Comfortex Window Fashions based in New York, developed a unique upgrade called the ComfortTrackâ„¢ Energy Saving Sidetrack System.

When a cellular shade is combined with this energy efficient sidetrack system a tough barrier is formed between the frame and the fabric resulting in an increased level of privacy and a thermal performance ranking as high as five times higher than that of a regular pane window. This treatment has been successful for even the most uneconomical windows in the windiest conditions.

Cellular shades can be purchased conveniently through the Internet which will save you even more with the rising costs of fuel. Some websites selling cellular shades and other window coverings offer free shipping on all orders within the main 48 states.



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Johnny Roberts asked:


Just like window blinds for your house, RV window blinds are coverings made to fit RV windows to provide shade and privacy. These blinds are available in a variety of styles and colors, so it is easy to find window shades that are not only the right size for your RV, but also fit nicely into your room’s design.

Some of the more commonplace types of RV window blinds include:

- Aluminum RV window blinds. Aluminum mini blinds are also available in an array of colors and most models include a simple device for opening and closing the slats, as well as raising and lowering the whole shade. These RV window blinds can be bought in a range of sizes and can often be cut to your specifications.

- Windshield privacy wraps. Similar to pleated, pull-down RV window blinds, windshield wraps are made from fabric material and are available in lots of colors. These window blinds are attached on rails along the inside of the windshield so they slide open and closed for easy use.

- Pull-down, pleated blinds. These shades are generally made of a tough, stain-resistant fabric and can be found in day/night options. Day/night window blinds feature a sheer layer that can provide respite from the sun and privacy without concealing all natural light for day time use and an opaque layer for complete privateness at night. Pull-down blinds are available in several colors and open and close without trouble.

Advantages of RV Window Blinds

There are a number of reasons RV owners want to install window blinds to their travel trailer or motor home. RV window blinds are almost similar to the blinds and shades covering windows in our homes. A primary purpose of their use is to add fashion, style and personality to your home away from home. There are plenty of styles and colors to want from, so it is easy to give your RV a personal touch.

Window blinds are also the easiest way to get a sense of privacy inside your RV. RV camping is lots of fun, but most RV parks don’t provide a great amount of privateness. While spending time with your camping neighbors is fun, there are times you need your own space. Window blinds can be lowered and closed so that no one can look inside your RV.

These window coverings are the greatest way to protect your RV’s interior from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays from the sun. RV window blinds can shut off direct sunlight so your furniture are protected from fading. They can also regulate the temperature inside your RV.

The Downfalls of Window Blinds for Your RV

Like home window blinds, those designed for RVs can be troublesome to keep clean. Pleated shades can simply be wiped clean with a damp sponge. While this type of blind is usually made of a stain resistant material, it is also much more susceptible to splatters and spills and may require more work than slatted blinds. Aluminum, slatted RV shades do require a more thorough cleaning process because each slat must be cleaned individually. It can also be hard to find RV window blinds for unconventional sized windows, often requiring a custom cutting.

How Much Are RV Window Blinds?

Window blinds are a great enhancement to your RV, whether you’re looking for some privacy or hoping to cool the inside of your motor home on a hot summer afternoon. A variety of styles, colors and sizes are generally available from outdoor outfitters and camping suppliers. RV window blinds are also available on the internet. These useful and beautiful window coverings can be found for as little as $30, while some RV window blinds cost more than $100. Professional installations will more expensive.



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